176 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [PARTI. 



VENATOR. Well sung, master; this day's fortune and plea- 

 sure, and this night's company and song, do all make me more 

 and more in love with angling. Gentlemen, my master left me 

 alone for an hour this day ; and I verily believe he retired him- 

 self from talking with me that he might be so perfect in this song ; 

 was it not, master ? 



PlSCATOR. Yes, indeed, for it is many years since I learned 

 it ; and having forgotten a part of it, I was forced to patch it up 

 by the help of mine own invention, who am not excellent at poetry, 

 as my part of the song may testify ; but of that I will say no 

 more, lest you should think I mean, by discommending it, to beg 

 your commendations of it. And therefore, without replications, 

 let's hear your catch, scholar ; which I hope will be a good 

 one, for you are both musical and have a good fancy to boot. 



VENATOR. Marry, and that you shall ; and as freely as I 

 would have my honest master tell me some more secrets of fish 

 and fishing, as we walk and fish towards London to-morrow. But, 

 master, first let me tell you, that very hour which you were absent 

 from me, I sat down under a willow-tree by the water-side, and 

 considered what you had told me of the owner of that pleasant 

 meadow in which you then left me ; that he had a plentiful estate, 

 and not a heart to think so ; that he had at this time many law- 

 suits depending ; and that they both damped his mirth, and took 

 up so much of his time and thoughts, that he himself had not 

 leisure to take the sweet content that I, who pretended no title to 

 them, took in his fields : for I could there sit quietly ; and looking 

 on the water, see some fishes sport themselves in the silver streams, 

 others leaping at flies of several shapes and colours ; looking on 

 the hills, I could behold them spotted with woods and groves ; 

 looking down the meadows, could see, here a boy gathering lilies 

 and lady-smocks, and there a girl cropping culverkeys and cow- 

 slips, all to make garlands suitable to this present month of May: 



XIII. XV. 

 While quiet we sit, We covet no wealth, 



We conclude all things fit ; But the blessing of health, 



Acquiescing with hearty submission : And that greater, good conscience within ; 

 For though simple, we know Such devotion we bring 



That soft murmurs will grow, To our God, and our King, 



At the last, unto downright sedition. That from either no offers can win. 



XIV. XVI. 



We care not who says, While we sit and fish, 



And intends it dispraise, We pray, as we wish, 



That an angler to a fool is next neighbour ; For long life to our King, James the Second. 

 Let him prate ; what care we ? Honest anglers then may, 



We're as honest as he ; Or they've very foul play, 



And so let him take that for his labour. With the best of good subjects be reckon'd. 



